Marshal AndrÚs de Santa Cruz, president of the republic of Bolivia since 1829, managed to stabilize and
organize Bolivia as a great nation of the South American continent. His ambitious project was the reunification of Peru with Bolivia as
it used to be at the time of Peruvian vice royalty or of Inca Tawantinsuyu.

Santa Cruz took advantage of a period of anarchy in Peru to conquer this country. He head an army of 5,000 soldiers to victory at Socabaya
on February 7, 1836. On June 20, 1836, Peru and Bolivia became unified into a confederation, and the Peruvian territory was divided into two
states (North and South).

The powerful confederation triggered hostilities with Argentina and Chile (which relationships with Peru were already tense), and also
suffered an internal rebellion among the Peruvian population. The war was declared between the four neighbor countries on May 19, 1837.

On June 28, 1837, the Argentinean army was defeated by Marshal Santa Cruz in Humahuaca and withdrew from the conflict.

On January 20, 1839, during the battle of Yuncai, the Bolivian army was defeated by the Chilean army (lead
by General Bulnes). This event put an end to the Peruvian-Bolivian confederation. Santa Cruz found refuge in Ecuador.